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36
Delhi’s problem of population and slum dwelling and not as intense as Mumbai. People
in Delhi are fluent in Hindi as in most northern sates and are more homogeneous in terms
of ethnicity. In total, 210 MSM and between the ages of 18-60 years were recruited: 73
from Mumbai, 69 from Delhi, and 68 from Goa. Identity was split on the basis of self-categorization.
Except for the hijras, only members that were part of the hijra community
or that were transgender, transsexual or hermaphrodite were included as hijras. During
the focus groups discussions the grouping was first done on the basis of self-identification
and inclusion in one of the sub-groups (i.e. living with other hijras or
MSWs). Self-categorized identity was then matched with behavior to check if self-identified
categories were consistent with behavior and schema of the sub-group.
However for the surveys, identity was only grouped according to self-labeled categories
in order to determine if there were significant demographic differences among groups as
observed in the FGDs. Also since individuals were allowed to pick the category they
identify closest with the terms gay and bisexual were also included in the survey since the
focus group results demonstrated that certain members from the Goa sample as well as
participants who were westernized or educated in English tended to identify with the
gay/bisexual category.
In Mumbai, participants were recruited through Sambhavana, the same
participating NGO as the focus group study. Samabhavana also facilitated recruitment in
Goa. Participants in Delhi were recruited through the Naz Foundation, New Delhi. In all
three locations recruitment was done through word of mouth. In order to ensure privacy
and safety for the respondents no flyers or public announcements for recruitment were
made. As with the focus group study, participants that were members of the NGO were

This dissertation deals specifically with the HIV/AIDS pandemic in India, insofar as it examines the socio-cultural impact on risk perception of HIV/AIDS and on performance of safe sex behavior. The studies focus on behaviorally homosexual men who are excluded from the major health information dissemination campaigns due to stigma, poverty, and low literacy levels. Reaching behaviorally homosexual men in India with safe sex messages, albeit extremely important, is difficult since these individuals are rendered imperceptible due to social stigma and lack of legal protection. Not only are these people at risk left untargeted by AIDS messages, but they are further alienated due to differences in language, culture, values and religion.; A pair of studies were conducted to assess (1) a more clear definition of MSM categories in India and to provide evidence for perceived differences among these MSM categories; (2) how behavior and risk are affected by stigma; (3) the nature of media use and dependency patterns among the different groups of MSM; (4) attitudes to condom use and negotiation skills. The first study consisted of 8 focus groups involving four groups of MSM in Mumbai and Goa. (kothis: self-identified gay men, hijras: transgenders, panthis: men married to women who have sex with men, and MSWs: Male sex workers). The second study was conducted in Mumbai, Delhi and Goa and involved 210 subjects. This study was informed by the results of the focus groups and sought primarily to support the findings of the qualitative study with quantifiable results.; Results indicate that differences in sexual identity reflect differences between group differences in terms of knowledge, susceptibility to risk and perceived selfefficacy.

36
Delhi’s problem of population and slum dwelling and not as intense as Mumbai. People
in Delhi are fluent in Hindi as in most northern sates and are more homogeneous in terms
of ethnicity. In total, 210 MSM and between the ages of 18-60 years were recruited: 73
from Mumbai, 69 from Delhi, and 68 from Goa. Identity was split on the basis of self-categorization.
Except for the hijras, only members that were part of the hijra community
or that were transgender, transsexual or hermaphrodite were included as hijras. During
the focus groups discussions the grouping was first done on the basis of self-identification
and inclusion in one of the sub-groups (i.e. living with other hijras or
MSWs). Self-categorized identity was then matched with behavior to check if self-identified
categories were consistent with behavior and schema of the sub-group.
However for the surveys, identity was only grouped according to self-labeled categories
in order to determine if there were significant demographic differences among groups as
observed in the FGDs. Also since individuals were allowed to pick the category they
identify closest with the terms gay and bisexual were also included in the survey since the
focus group results demonstrated that certain members from the Goa sample as well as
participants who were westernized or educated in English tended to identify with the
gay/bisexual category.
In Mumbai, participants were recruited through Sambhavana, the same
participating NGO as the focus group study. Samabhavana also facilitated recruitment in
Goa. Participants in Delhi were recruited through the Naz Foundation, New Delhi. In all
three locations recruitment was done through word of mouth. In order to ensure privacy
and safety for the respondents no flyers or public announcements for recruitment were
made. As with the focus group study, participants that were members of the NGO were